Lubricator construction



Jan. 11, 1938. J MQRROW 2,104,905

LUBRICATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 15, 1957 Patented Jan. 11, 1938 UNETED STATES ZJMEQS PATENT OFFIQE LUBRICATOR CONSTRUCTION poration of Illinois Application February 15, 1937, Serial No. 125,749

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to lubricator construction and more particularly to a high pressure lubricator utilizing a manually operable plunger for ejecting lubricant, and is concerned with a novel plunger rod and guide construction.

The present invention is applicable to high Pressure lubricators such for instance as disclosed in E. H. Morrow Letters Patent No. 1,863,911, dated June 21, 1932 and applicants co-pending applications, Serial Nos. 71,092, and 71,093, filed March 27, 1936.

High pressure lubricators of the character in which the present invention finds ready use operate to eject lubricantsunder high pressure by means of pistons and plunger rods operable through the lubricator bodies by hand pressure applied to said plunger rods. It has sometimes happened that some lubricant escaped around the plunger rods to the outsides of the bodies, thus resulting in dirty and messy lubricators, as well as involving a waste of lubricant.

The present invention prevents any lubricant waste, thereby assuring clean lubricators thus enhancing their use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a high pressure lubricator having novel means for preventing lubricant escape about the plunger rod.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a. high pressure lubricator of the plunger rod type, means for sealing the rod against lubricant escape without interfering with the ease of operation of the plunger rod.

A further object of the present invention has todo with the provision of means for supplying air to the interior of the lubricator body to facilitate pressure discharge of the lubricant.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel piston valve arrangement for supplying air to the interior of lubricator bodies for increasing the effectiveness of the pressure discharge as well as preventing accidental escape of the lubricant.

The above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing.

The accompanying drawing illustrates embodiments of the present invention, and the views thereof are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a lubricator, with a part of the body broken away to show interior details of construction, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view showing fragmental portions of the plunger rod, and sleeve of the novel plunger rod and valve construction of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental, enlarged, vertical sectional view taken through the lubricator of Fig. 1 and showing the plunger rod in retracted or normal position and showing relation of the parts with the rod in this position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the rod projected or advanced, as necessary to eject lubricant from the body and showing the relative position of the parts with the rod in advanced position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical central sectional view through a body end and sleeve construction formed as an integral unit and which may be used to close the end of a cylindrical lubricator, such as that shown in co-pending application Serial No. 71,092.

The drawing will now be explained.

It is to be understood that the present invention is adaptable to lubricators of various shapes and kinds and that the disclosure of the particular type of lubricator is by no means by way of limitation of the invention.

The lubricator illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a body I having a threaded neck to which is threadedly connected a collar 2 formed integrally with a spout portion 3.

Another spout portion 4 is connected to the portion 3 preferably by threading. The spout portion 4 carries at its outer end an oil seal 5 having a tip 6 of resilient material for sealing the connection between the spout and an oil fitting.

Within the portion 3 of the spout, a piston, not shown, is operable by means of a plunger rod I.

In the construction of the lubricator shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the bottom center is inwardly dished forming a central fiat portion 9 to which is secured, as by soldering, welding or the like, a sleeve II] extending inwardly of the bottom 8, and terminating within the interior of the body I. Outwardly of the central portion of the bottom, the extremity of the plunger rod 7 is reduced in diameter and threaded as in I I to threadedly receive a pressure applying member such as a thumb button I2. Between the button I 2 and the central portion 9 of the bottom, a spring I3 is interposed for the purpose of normally maintaining the plunger rod 1 in retracted or normal position, that is, in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The sleeve I0 extends inwardly from the central portion 9 of the bottom a sufficient distance to provide a guide for the plunger rod I. Between the ends of the sleeve I0 is a hole or perforation of the lubricator, the

I4, preferably somewhere within the mid-length of the sleeve.

The plunger rod I is made as an integral unit and near its lower or outer end, which is the end extending through the bottom 8, is formed with an annular groove or recess l5, and inwardly of this recess with a'groove l6.

Applied over the outer end of the rod is a washer ll, preferably of rubber or rubber composition having a cylindrical inner surface IS with a tapered outer surface and fiat end surfaces, one of which is designated at IS. The junction between the tapered side surface and the flat end surface I9 forms a sharp edge 20 which is greater in diameter than the external diameter of the rod 1. The washer I! is applied over the outer end of the rod, before the rod is applied to the sleeve ill, by a suitable tool, the washer being stretched during its application to the rod. After the Washer is moved into register with the recess or groove I5, it becomes seated in said groove by reason of its inherent resiliency to resume its normal shape and size, thus positioning the washer on the rod in operative position. 7

After the rod l' is inserted in the sleeve Hi, which is done by removing the spout which is connected to the collar 2, from' the body I. the rod is inserted into the sleeve l0 through its inner end; the washer I'l entering the sleeve l0, and with the outer end of the rod projecting through the opening inthe bottom 8, the spring I3 is then applied and the thumb button l2 threaded onto the extremity H of the rod, thus assembling the rod in operative relation in the lubricator.

The relationship of the hole or aperture l4 and the position of the washer IT on the rod is such that the washer works within the sleeve ll} throughout the extent of movement of the rod 7 in operation. The hole I4 is so disposed in the sleeve that when the rod 1 is in retracted or normally inoperative position, the washer I1 is between the hole l4 and the outer end of the sleeve l0, thus effectively sealing this end of the lubricator body against oil escape'through the outer end of the sleeve. By reason of the configuration and resiliency of the washer ll, it tightly engages the inner surface of the sleeve H) to prevent air escape from the interior of the body to the atmosphere through the outer end of the sleeve Ii]. When the rod is advanced or projected to discharge lubricant through the spout washer IT passes the hole l4 thus opening communication between the interior of the body I and the atmosphere, through the hole l4 and the outer end of the sleeve 50, thus admitting air to the interior of the body I.

As the plunger is actuated in service by pumping action, a certain amount of air is necessary to be compressed within the portion 3 the spout to create sufficient pressure against a charge of oil trapped in the portion 3 to discharge the oil or lubricant under highpressure. This air is, in the present invention, supplied to the interior of the body I whenever the plunger rod 1 is advanced, thus placing the. interior of the body in communication with the atmosphere through the hole l4 and outer end of the sleeve H] as mentioned.

Referring to Fig. 5 which illustrates a unit ineluding a dished disc l8 and an integrally connected sleeve IS, the outer end of the sleeve opening through the disc. The margin of the disc I8 is curved as at 20 to provide a margin which may be rolled or crimped to the end of a lubricator body of cylindrical type. This unit is especially useful in connection with a cylindrical lubricator such, for instance, as the general type illustrated in copending application Serial No. 71,092.

The sleeve i9 is provided with a hole or aperture 2|, corresponding to and functioning in a manner similar to hole 14 heretofore described with reference to the other figures of the draw- By constructing the plunger rod 1 as a unitary piece, manufacturing costs are materially reduced without impairing the efficiency of the rod to properly support the washer i! and cause it to function in the manner described.

In order to limit the outward movement of the plunger rod 1 under influence of the spring [3, a lock ring 22 is inserted in the groove N3 of the rod, after the rod is assembled in the sleeve as heretofore described. This ring seats onthe inner end of the sleeve 55 when the rod 1 is retracted or moved in retrograde direction by-the spring I3, as heretofore described.

It has been successfully determined by experimentation and commercial use that lubricators constructed in accordance with the present invention Very effectively discharge lubricant under high pressure regardless of the fluidity of such lubricant. Such lubricators readily eject lubricants as heavy as GOO-W as well as lubricants of lighter-quality.

In high pressure hand lubricators, charges of lubricant are trapped in the spouts by spring pressed closures, and then discharged by pressure applied to the trapped charges, by plunger rod action.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, yet it is to be understood that the invention is not to'be limited thereby, as changes maybe made in the arrangement and proportion of parts, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In a high pressure hand lubricator apparatus including a body for lubricants and a spout and wherein a plunger rod actuates a piston to trap a charge of lubricant in a chamber normally closed by a spring pressed closure and then ejects the charge under high pressure built up in the chamber by force applied to the charge by-movement of the plunger rod and piston, distinguished by the fact that the rod is guided by a sleeve disposed within the body and with one end open to the atmosphere and having an aperture in it between its ends and the rod is provided with a washer working within the sleeve which washer opens said aperture to communicate between the interior of the body and the atmosphere when the rod is moved to eject a charge and wherein the sleeve is sealed against lubricant and air escape to the atmosphere when the rod is in normal or inoperative position.

2. In combination with a plunger actuated high pressure lubricator. including a lubricator body and a discharge spout, means providing a cylindrical guide disposed with one end open to the atmosphere and having an opening to the interior of the lubricator body, a plunger extending through said guide and movable from retracted to advanced position to discharge lubricant through said spout and movable from advanced to retracted position after lubricant is discharged ready to repeat the discharge operation, said guide having a port through its side terior of said body through said port is established to admit air to the interior of the body.

3. In combination with a plunger actuated high pressure lubricator including a body and a discharge spout, a one piece plunger rod having one end adapted to project outwardly of said body to receive a pressure applying member, a sleeve fixed to said body for guiding said rod, said sleeve having one end opening to the atmosphere and the other end opening to the interior of said body, said sleeve having an aperture in it between its ends, said rod having an annular recess and a sealing washer in said recess so positioned as to cause said washer to work within said sleeve as said rod is reciprocated in use, stop means on said rod cooperating with the inner end of said sleeve to limit travel of said rod in retrograde direction, spring means acting against said pressure applying member to normally urge said rod in retrograde direction and to maintain said stop against the inner end of said sleeve, and the washer and the hole in said sleeve being so positioned relatively to each other as to close said hole to the atmosphere when the rod is in normally retracted position and to open the hole to the atmosphere when the rod is advanced.

JOHN C. MORROW. 

